Chapter 70 of 100

Chapter 70

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Pan Shijian, the governor of the imperial capital, had just climbed out of bed from his eighteenth concubine. He was forty-six years old, in the prime of his life, and was vigorous both in his career and in his private life.

In his career, he was already the highest administrative official in the imperial capital, a grand second-rank official of the empire, and a core member of the Loyal Prince's faction. With the Loyal Prince's growing influence in the court, he was very likely to advance further in the near future. At best, he could enter the cabinet and become a chancellor, and at worst, he could take charge of one of the six central ministries.

He was a successful man, and even in middle age, he could fully satisfy a nineteen-year-old girl. The hysterical cries of his concubine made him feel very proud. Governor Pan felt that his life had never been better.

If there was anything that troubled him, it was his precious son, Pan Shaofeng, who was very troublesome.

After spending a year at Mount Taiyue Sect, he thought some changes might have occurred, but when he returned home, he was still the same. He hadn't even settled in before he disappeared again, no one knew where he had gone.

Every time Governor Pan had a session with one of his concubines, he would unconsciously visit his wife's room afterward, whether out of guilt or for some other reason. This had become a fixed habit, and this time was no exception.

The governor's wife was in the Buddhist hall praying. As Pan Shijian's position grew higher and he took more concubines, his wife spent more and more time in the Buddhist hall.

After a maid announced his arrival, the governor's wife stopped reciting scriptures and came over to talk with Governor Pan.

Pan Shijian glanced at his wife and saw that she didn't look too good. He tried to make small talk, "Madam, have you been well recently?"

As soon as he asked, he wanted to slap himself. What kind of question was that? He had devoted all his "energy" to his new concubines, so it was no wonder his wife wasn't doing well. If she were doing well, would she be reciting scriptures and praying every day? Have you ever seen a woman who is living a comfortable life doing that?

"Fine," the wife replied indifferently.

"Oh, that's good," Governor Pan found a topic they both might be interested in, "Madam, do you know where Shaofeng has gone?"

"I don't know, probably out playing."

"When did he leave?"

"I'm not sure, Xiao Cui said he left in the morning. Both he and the carriage are gone."

Governor Pan nodded, then suddenly thought of something and asked, "He didn't take the golden carriage, did he?"

"Yes," the governor's wife nodded indifferently.

"Ridiculous!" Governor Pan slammed his teacup on the table, spilling the tea.

"What's wrong? That carriage was a birthday gift from you. He's not the first time to take it out. What's the problem?"

"That's a woman's way of thinking!" Governor Pan glared at his wife angrily, "Can things be the same as before? In the past, the three special service agencies were under the control of Prince Kang, so he wouldn't investigate me. Now they are under the control of Song Xinghai, who is our rival. This guy is very vigilant, always looking for our mistakes. Shaofeng being so showy is like asking for trouble. If the inspection agency notices, I might be in big trouble. With my salary, I could never afford such a carriage in my lifetime!"

"What's the point of all your power struggles? I find it more peaceful to recite scriptures." The governor's wife ignored him and went back to the Buddhist hall to pray.

"Indulgent mothers spoil their children. Shaofeng is the way he is because of you!" Pan Shijian cursed and left.

After returning home, Pan Shaofeng didn't even settle in before running off again. Governor Pan didn't even have a chance to talk to him about the recent changes in the imperial capital. At their level, they must always be aware of the power structure in the capital, who they can befriend, who they can step on, and who they absolutely cannot provoke. If they don't understand this, they might inadvertently offend someone they shouldn't, which could bring big trouble to the family. The imperial capital is a place where even a random carriage driver on the street could be a servant of a noble.

Governor Pan knew his son was arrogant and liked to cause trouble, but the boy was smart enough to know who he could offend and who he couldn't. However, after being away for a year, he might not be aware of the current power dynamics in the capital. He mustn't run into Song Li.

Song Li used to have a bad reputation in the capital, not because of his character but because of his lack of strength. Few of the capital's young masters took him seriously. But recently, this guy had some good luck, his health mysteriously improved, and he had gained a significant reputation in the capital. He had humiliated the sons of the Nine Gate Inspector, the National Defender, and the Prince of Jingwang, and their fathers, despite their efforts, couldn't do anything about it.

Most importantly, Song Li's father, Song Xinghai, was now a powerful official with the support of the emperor, in charge of the three special service agencies, and had formed a significant political force around him. Even the Loyal Prince was wary of him. The emperor's move was indeed clever; Song Xinghai, who was previously underestimated, had proven to be a formidable opponent. The emperor had given him a title and real power to check the Loyal Prince, and it had worked to some extent.

While the Loyal Prince wasn't afraid of Song Xinghai, Pan Shijian was. He had too many skeletons in his closet, and if Song Xinghai decided to investigate him, he would be in deep trouble.

Pan Shaofeng didn't know any of this. Pan Shijian was worried that his son, unaware of the changes in the capital, would still view Song Li with the old perspective. Given their temperaments, a conflict was inevitable.

He wasn't worried that his son couldn't handle Song Li. After all, his son had trained in a prestigious sect and was at the second level of the Qi Induction stage, which was rare among the capital's young masters. Song Li shouldn't be a match for him. What he feared was Song Xinghai behind Song Li.

He wanted to send someone to find his son, but the capital was neither too big nor too small, and finding someone was like looking for a needle in a haystack. So he could only pray that his son wouldn't run into Song Li. As long as they didn't conflict, everything else would be manageable.

As the old saying goes, what you fear will come to pass. The following events proved this true.

Governor Pan had just returned to his study from his wife's Buddhist hall, ready to handle official business, when a "monster" with a head as big as a melon and a face wrapped in bandages burst in. The "monster" was covered in white bandages, with only his eyes and nostrils visible.

"What kind of demon dares to break into the Pan residence in broad daylight?" Pan Shijian was terrified. What was this thing, and where did it come from?

"Father, it's me, Shaofeng." The "monster" spoke, and it was indeed his son's voice.

"Shaofeng? Is it really you?" Governor Pan looked at the strange figure in disbelief. "Why is your head so big?"

"Don't ask, Father. This time, you have to stand up for me. I was slapped dozens of times in front of the whole street, and my teeth were knocked out..." Pan Shaofeng's eyes welled up with tears. He had sought help from Song Moran but got no support, so he came home to his father. Because his face was so swollen, he had bandaged it up before coming to complain.

Governor Pan's anger flared. His son, no matter how incompetent, was his to discipline. The thought of someone hurting his son, especially in such a cruel way, made him furious. Everyone knew that you don't hit someone in the face or expose their weaknesses. This guy had slapped his son in front of the capital's citizens. As the saying goes, even when beating a dog, you consider the owner. Slapping Pan Shaofeng was like slapping him, the governor of the imperial capital!

"Who is so bold as to dare to hit my son, Pan Shijian's son?" Governor Pan's eyes narrowed, and he was already thinking of ways to retaliate.

"It was that waste of space, Song Li! That guy must have eaten something wrong, he saw me and just started hitting me! Father, I've never been so humiliated in my life!" Pan Shaofeng deliberately left out the details, hoping his father would stand up for him. He couldn't tell his father that he had been driving recklessly in the market, almost causing a fatal accident, and that Song Li had stepped in to teach him a lesson. If he did, his father might not help him and might even beat him again!

"What? It was Song Li?" Pan Shijian was stunned. He had feared his son would run into Song Li, and now it had happened. They had indeed had a conflict. However, he was surprised that his son had been beaten so badly. "He hit you, and you didn't fight back? Can't you beat him?"

"Cough... I... we fought to a draw..." Pan Shaofeng lowered his head, avoiding his father's gaze.

Nonsense! If you fought to a draw, you wouldn't have been slapped. Pan Shijian, a shrewd man, immediately realized his son was lying. However, he didn't expose the lie. His son, a pampered young man, had been publicly humiliated and was probably devastated. As a father, he wouldn't add salt to the wound.

However, he was genuinely shocked!

Song Li had almost no cultivation talent for the past ten years, which everyone knew and laughed about. If Pan Shijian remembered correctly, Song Li had only regained his cultivation talent a few months ago. In such a short time, his combat skills had improved to the point where he could match a second-level Qi Induction stage expert? And Pan Shaofeng had trained at the prestigious Mount Taiyue Sect.

Such rapid cultivation was truly astonishing!

"Tell me the details of what happened," Pan Shijian asked calmly.

Pan Shaofeng recounted the events, of course, leaving out the part about his reckless driving and embellishing Song Li's cruelty. In his version, Song Li was a tyrannical bully, and he, Pan Shaofeng, was an innocent victim.

Pan Shijian knew his son was exaggerating, but he didn't care. Regardless of the reason, Song Li had slapped his son, which was like slapping him. If he didn't stand up for his son, he would lose face in the capital. Although he was wary of Song Xinghai, as a protective father, he couldn't stand by and do nothing!

Damn it, I'll take you on! Even a prince can't be unreasonable!

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